\e9Tets ef 'Qi^rnitY' 



H. N. BROWN. 



,^ 









THE 



es^eis of @ic^»i^y, 



■BY— 



H. TV. BI^O^^TV 



/v ^-^ ^ — 

! /,. 23 1885 



<?t 



iltlantaj GEnrgia. 

CLARK UNIVERSITY PRESS. 

IBBB. 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year t886, by 

H. N. BROWN. 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C, 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



^'He, Christ, could read the secrets of Eterni- 
ty," Having read these words in the study of 
Christian Evidences, and in connection with a 
series of sermons I had preached from the Sub- 
ject, '^Man, a Spiritual and Progressive being." 
I was moved to write this little book which con- 
taines but the outlines of what I hope to give to 
the public in the near future. 

Yours Truly, 

H. N. Brown. 
Clark University, 

Atlanta, Ga. May 5th. 1886. 




ts ol Eternity. 



npiHl: subject is one o\ vast importance t'> us, 
p for we are inteiesterl in eternity, inuchless, 
its secrets. Mh\ are we interested in the 
secrets of eternity ? First, because we are spirit- 
liaL and progressive beings. We are destined 
to live always, either in blell or Heaven. 

Man's liiV, in a sense, is, an unlimited one. In- 
deed, it is said, that ''it is appointed unto men 
once to die, but after this the judgment." It i^ 
evident that the text refers to the death of the 
physical body, and no:; the spiritual; for that is im 
mortal and has no limit. Thus we say that man 
is a spiritual, and progi-essive being. 



IHl: sKCklils oK 



^Vliat we mean by this is, that lie goes on un- 
bounded as it relates to his life, and all that goes 
to make it up. He is capable of developments 
that eternity alone will, or can disclose* If that 
be true, Avhich it is, so far as we are able to see, 
the appointed time for man on earth, in itself, is 
not sufficient for the unfolding of his powers. 

'J herefore, it is clear that be must be interested 
in the secrets of eternity; since eternity alone can 
or will disclose the hidden powers of the soul, lift 
up the curtain that hides from our view the beau- 
ty of the soul, and its power of expansion, and 
we shall gx) on in the midst of eternity unfolding 
and developing all our powders, •'( ) how we groan. 
I arnestly desiring lo be clothed upon with our 
house wdiich is from heaven.*' Not that we de- 
sire to die. but that we desire to be at home.and 
there read the secrets of eternity. We have a 
very great desire to read the secrets of eternity* 
but we have no desire to enter into its passage, 
viz. Death. We prefer to be clothed upon, and 
pass away into the spiri t world without being sub- 
jected to this passage. But alas! alas! we groan 
beneath its pressure. It is a curse. ^'The day 



inERMrv. 



that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 
It was the design or will of God at the beginning 
of man's creation that he should never die. And 
had he never died, he would have read the secrets 
of eternitj^ without the given revelation of Jesus 
Christ. And furthermore. I believe had this 
curse of dying never fallf^n upon him, his develop- 
ment would have been more rapid than it can 
possibly be made under the curse of disobedience. 
And if that be true, he would have read the se- 
crets of eternitv much soonert han he is able to read 
them in the light of our present revelation. 

To the subject in lismd/fhe Secretn of Eterni- 
ty^ one man only has ever read them viz. Jesus 
Christ. He who could read the secrets of all 
men's hearts could also read the secrets of Eter- 
nity. He did read many of the secrets of Eter- 
nity. But OhI how weak our faith, how blind 
our eyes, and how dull our understanding I that 
we pass on to Eternity without even learning its 
alphabet. Friends! let me exhort you « littU 
just here. Would you read your titles clear t( 
mansions in the skies ? 

Would you smile at Satan's rage, and fnce ; 



TiiK^^KrKi-yrs 



fi owning world? Would yon safely reach your 
home, youi- (u)d, yourluaven, your all? Would 
vou bathe vour weary soul in seas of heavenly 
)'est; And not a wave of trouble roll across your 
peaceful breast?'' If hO, exercise faith, be able 
to sing, •'! once Wcrs lost, but now I am found, 
was blind, but now 1 see/* 

''Yes, when this flesh and lieart shall fail; 
And mortal life shall cease, 

I SjiALL possess, within the yail, 
A life of ^'oy and peace."* 

If so, rub up your undei'standing, that you 
may know the alphabet and be prepared to 
read secrets of eternity: for he who would read 
the sec j-ets of eternity successfully, must l^arn 
by faith to read them befoi'e the yail is lifted. 

(); you slothful soul arise fiom youi* drowsy 
sleep, the secret leader is luar. 

i AVe itave .^ aid that Chiist could and did ixad 
many of the secrets of eternity, let us giye you 
a few of his many examples, which will help ns 
just here. 

'*'] he k-'on of man is ( ome to seek aud to saye that 
whiclr was lost/' ( hrist's mission to earth whs 



Kl kKM ^^ 



one of the gieat secrets of eternity. Angels sang 
about it on the plains of ])eth]( In ni; The star 
pointtd out his lesting place, and nu n worshipc d 
him. His Dfath and Resurrection were often 
with him a topic of discussion, even with Moses 
and Elias. He knew all about the pangs of 
death, and His lesiirection power even before 
He had ( xperienced tlum. lie could tell of the 
horio]' of death, and of the glory of tlie resunec- 
tion. He could >ay to the -lews, '^-Before Abi-a- 
ham was, 1 am.'' And to .Job. '*A\']ieie wast 
thou wh( n ] laid the fouiidatfons of the 
earth? declare if thou hast understanding Who 
hath iaid the mc asm es thereof, if thou know- 
est or who hath sti etched the line upon it? 
Whereupon are the foundations? or who laid the 
(omer 8tone thereof; When the morning stars 
sang together, and all the sons of (iod shouted 
for -'oy? All things aie deliveicd unto me of 
my Fatlier; and no man knoAveth the bon but, 
the Father; neither- knoweth any man the Fa- 
the]-, save the Pon, and he to Avhomsoe\er the Son 
will KYial In'm:" ''1 have yet many things to say 
unto vou but YOU (aimot bear tliem now/" How- 



THK SECRETS OF 



beit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will 
guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak 
of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that 
shall he speak; and he will shew you things to 
come." He shall receive of mine, and shall shew 
it unto you." The Spirit can and will reveal to 
us many of the secrets of eternity if we are only 
willing to accept of His teachings, but with all 
the light he may shed upon us our time on earth 
is too short to unfold them. Eternity alone can 
disclose them. If it was possible that our time 
would be suflficient, the sight would be too great 
for us just now. 

Paul on his way to Damascus, to persecute a 
few of God's people, meeting Jesus in the way 
found tliat the sight was too gr^at for him, for 
there shone round about him a light from heaven, 
aud he fell to the earth, and was blind, and the 
men with him stood speechless; And Christ's 
transfiguration; Moses and Elias; God's voice 
from the cloud was too much for Peter, James 
and John for they fell upon their faces, and were 
sore afraid; And God's face was too much for 
Moses to look upon, he must needs get in the cleft 



ETERNITY 



of the rock, and God to cover him with His 
hand while He passed by so awful was his eter- 
nity. And Paul caught up to the third heaven, 
and heard unspeakable words, and came back to 
say, ''Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither 
have entered into the heart of man, the things 
which God hath for them that love him." 

O! let us be prepared to meet the secrets of 
etemitv, for eternitv alone will disclose them. 



niK. 'KCRli'lS (>K 



11 



'i^fi^ have said that (riaii is a ^^pirltual aiicl 
progressive being, and that eternity alone 
wonld be sufficient lo disclose the many se- 
crets relatiTe to him and his development. 

Throw off the physical reasoning of mind and walk 
with us as \ve descend step by step into His inter- 
mediate state, and expose the regions of the dead. 
In ovir thoughts \ve may discern the steps and en- 
ter into his intermediate slate and there explore 
its regions. Did we say in our thoughts descend.^ 
IV^, and in our thoughts only so long as this tab-- 
ernacle is the Lome of the soul. Our steps are 
too fiail to admit of a passag(^ without tlie disi-'o- 
lution of the body. J^f4 us therefore tread light- 
ly as possibly a^ we descend into the regions of 
the other world. J3e careful as we make the four 
st(^ps that bring tis into His interinf cliate stat* 



riic first, ( orriiptioii. Let us stop and (*xaininc 
tliis step a little before we descend to the next, 
(oniiption, is that, whieh possesses a putnfied 
iiatiiie. Fvoni wliat we lia\t» said heretofore it 
will be (•!< ally seen that man gave to eonuption 
a dominion over his physical body, he would 
otherw ise have gone on and his physical body 
would not have been subjected to this kind of 
tn atment. But alas* alasl w^e must take this 
step. ^'It is sown in corruption."" 

Our next step that we will take Is dishonor, ^^It 
is sown in dishonor." Here our need honor. 
Why is it so? Because we sold our honor for dis- 
honoi", and bought and paid for the nails that 
clinched it ()! is it not a shame for us^to have 
lost all honor? but you say we are too fast, not 
at all it was Adam that ate the forbidden fruit 
and brought us into dishonor. And our greatest 
trouble is that we like the step of dishonoj-much 
better than any one of the four. We shall not 
complain since it is the only passage by whieli 
we reach the grim statehood of Death. 

()ur third step is weakness. --It is sowu in 
weakness*' It was man's weakness in his normal 



lo 



ETKKNn Y 



condition that gave birth to so much of it in his 
abnormal condition. The normal condition was 
a condition of completeness having body, soul, 
spirit, life and freedom. It was a condition un- 
der command and obligation to obey law^ as re- 
vealed in nature, in conscience, and in the word 
of God." The abnormal or fallen condition of 
man, is a condition in which man is imder the 
same legal obligations as when in his normal or 
unfallen state. C)ne has ^rlt is h condition involv- 
ing an inherited tendency to sin. It is a condi- 
tion so inevitable that no member of the race 
(except one) has escaped personal sin and gnilt*" 
It is, therefore, a condition which exposes every 
member of the race (except one) to bodily, spir- 
itual and etei-nal death: making likewise the pos- 
sibility of salvation strictly dependent upon that 
'"gracious ability" provided by the mercy of Cod 
through Jesus (Christ: We must now pass to the 
fourth step which will place us into the presence 
of this intermediate state which we are anxious 
to enter. We have many dear friends resting in 
the intermediate state and O! how anxious we are 
to c^reet them, but V)e careful we are still on the 



THE S^:CRETS OV n 



foiii'th step, it is a natural body. '"-It is sown in a 
natural body." A natural body under the curse 
of disobedience made subject to death. But be- 
fore we introduce you to the spirit world we will 
for your benefit reverse the order of our steps 
down which we have gradually descended. 1. 
Natural body, 2. Weakness, 3. Dishonor, and 4. 
Corruption. Nowl let us suppose that we have 
entei'ed the intermediate state and now we will 
introduce you to some of your friends. Ah, you 
say, they are not here, you don't believe in such 
a place as this, your friends are in heaven you 
say. 

Well, let us see, Ave say that we are now in the 
iutermediate state, that is the state between 
death and the resurrection, and your friends art 
here. Let us see what the. Saviour says about it. 
' ' To-day shalt thou be with rmd I iatt paradise . " * 
Did not the malefactor that day" go into paradise^ 
with Jesus? Yes he did. Did not Jesus ascend 
the steps on the outer side? that is the steps of 
the resurrection? Yes, Now did you ever hear of 
the malefactor ascending? Nol Then he must be 
in here vet: and so aie vour friends. Well! here is 



12 KTFRNrrv 

another piobltm. Are tlie wicked a]id the good 
both r( sting in this intermediate state? ves but 
there is a difference in the degreess in whicli 
they rest, and also there is a grtat gnlf fixtd so 
that they who would pass from (Jehenna Hades, 
(that is the state of the wicked) to Paradise Ha- 
des cannot. 

1 here is another very gi( at problem to solve. 
]t is said in 1, 1 eter o, 19: combined with 1 Vv- 
ter 4, <>: that Christ went and preached to the 
spirits in prison. Now I while we are here in the 
intermediate state, if possible, it is a good time to 
explain that. Let us suppose it to be a fact for 
we believe it, and will pioceed to speak of it as a 
fact. Here in this intei mediate state where 
Christ was preaching. Are we not saying too 
much for that? we think not. U he problem is. 
to whom was He preaching? and what for? 

Let us first say that He was preaching to the 
righteous people. Eut you say that their moial 
chaiacter is fixed, and if so why should he preach 
to them? If you will remember that Ave said 
that man is a spiritual and piogiessive being, and 
Its'des you must uph mber that picaching is 



IIIK SKCKKTS OF i : 



|u;ood tidings, and so Christs' presence there 
with tliem was a source of joy to say Jiothing of 
his blessed words to them. Because their char- 
acter was fixed, was no reason that Jesns should 
not encouiage them while resting in the interme- 
diate state. Did he not talk with Moses and KW- 
as on the mountain Jjust before his death? and 
was not his death the topic of their conversation? 
So he might have talked with them in the inter- 
mediate state about his death and resurrection 
foi- He was to leave very soon. Now to think 
that Jesus would leave Heaven, come to Earth 
and visit the intermediate state and return to 
Heaven without saying a word to Abraham, Job. 
Moses or Elias and all the rest who were there 
resting in hope of the resurrection, it is not 
consistent with common sense to think so. 

Now let us suppose that He was preaching to 
the wicked. Well he could be easily heard from 
Paradise Hades to (lebanna Hades and if He 
was preaching to them, it w^as not because it was 
possible to change their character. But why did 
he preach to them? If He was preaching to them. 
He wa^ preaching to them on the ^ame line, and 



14 I TLKNI'I V. 



fi^om the same text that Abraham preached to 
t le ri(^h man. I presume we have been in the 
intermediate state long enough and liad better 
begin to hunt our way out sin^e we must ascend 
by a new stepway. Tell your friends good by 
and take a good look at Peter, James, John, Paul, 
Moses, Klias, Job and Samuel, and we will go. 
We must rt^turn by way of the steps of the res 

urrection. So friends good bye, we will leave 
you tor the present. 

Our first step is incorruption Step heavy as 
you will, for it is sound and immortal. Our sec- 
ond is glory. Praise (iod for the thought, wr 
went down in dishonor but we ascend in glorv. 
Oui- third is poAver. 

Thank Ood, He so loved the world as to give 
his Son to die for us. Sown in weakness but 
raised in power. Now we have one more step to 
make and Ave are nt home in this bodv. 

That step is a spiritual body. Sown a natui-al 
body but raised a spiritual body. Thank (iod. 
^^Tliere is i\ natural body and there is a spirit- 
ual body. 

Now! we ai-e at home, aftei" a short joui'nev in- 



THE SKCRKTS OF 



to the intermediate state; so let ns now rest a 
season as we propose to ascend and take a look 
at Jesus in His mediatorial office and God on the 
majestical Throne of Divine Justice. 



I 



III. 



ince we liavc rested, we will now ascend. 
><^ Hilt Aviiat about tlie passage? Well, it is too 

soon to disrobe, so we will make it by 
tlioiigbt. We will now call down tli*- elonds and 
make tbem oui- eliariot. Step on, np, up we go. 
Tbe eartli is now lost to oui- view and we are 
neaiinp- tbe C'itv. Look^ look' iionf-er! at the 
wall of the City; it hath twelve foundations, and 
in them the names of the twelve apostles of the 
Lamb. The city lieth foursquare, and the length 
is as hr.'uv as the breadth. It is twelve thousand 
furlonu's. 1 he length and br( adth and lieiofht of 
it are equal. According to the measure of man 
it is a hundred and forty and four cubits \\ hy 
/(> >/r. the building of the wall is of of jaspei*, and 
the city is of pure gold. like unto cl'^ar glass. 



ETERNITY. 



The foundations of tlie wall ol the city are garn- 
ished witli 4^11 manlier of precious stones. 

-We will-n^<Dw pass aronud the wall of the'(^ity. 
Let US go eastward. Here are three gates and 
each is of pearl. We will now turn or»r chariot 
about and go to the North and as we ride -^ along 
we will take a view of the gates at the Nortli for 
th^ese kre three and each is a pearl, \^^dl' we 
have not time to delay so we must make our 
way to the South, On we ride and the chariot 
gently lowers; the south side of the city is reached 
and we stop a while to vieAV the gate», three in 
number, and O! they are a maivel of beauty, 
and eacli a pearl. It is growing late and the ex- 
ploration must be continued. Po our chariot 
is now coursed for the west, on aiound tlie wall 
we pass until the three gates are reached, and 
we stop for a few moments to^^'view the three 
pearly gates, for one cannot |3^vS's them without 
stopping to look at them. ' i 

After a moment's \iewtof theJi^atc s we pass in- 
to the citj' at tlie west gate ISVhv we are looking 
down the street of the city, and ft is pure gold 
as it were transparent glass's: Now we pass down 



i8 Tin: SECRETS i'F 



the street toward the east gates, and as we pass 
along we are looking on all sides for the temple, 
and we have l<:^arned that there is none for the 
I^ord God Almighty arid the l.amb are the tem- 
ple. We now look upward but there is no more 
sun to be seen, and we learn that therc^ is no 
night here for the glory of God lightens the city, 
and the Lamb is the light thereof. Now Mich- 
ael one of the chitf princes has joined as. It 
Avas He that came to Gabriel's aid in his contest 
with the prince of the kingdom of Persia Avhen 
the prince of Persia stayed him twenty one days, 
but ]\Iichael soon had him on his journey to 
Daniel. 

It wao Michael also that fought against the 
diagon and cast liim out. Gabriel is also with us 
now and aa^ find our selves in one of the special 
chariots of luaven, on we ride, and now we 
come to a pine liver of water of life, clear as 
crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and 
< f the Lamb. '^In the midst of the street of it. 
and either side of the river there is the tri e of 
bfe, wliich bare twelve manner of fruits, and 
yielded her fruit everv month, and the leaves of 



ETERNITY, 



the tree are for the healings of the Dations. 
Heie we are by Michael and Gabriel biought in- 
to the full presence of God. Now we stand be- 
fore him face to face. 01 What a glorious thought. 
The pure in heart shall see God. Here 
we are to shine forth as the sun in the kinpdom 
of our father. Piaise the name of God foi- the 
gift of his son Jesus Christ. 

God is on the thione, and lules in righteous- 
ness, love and mercy, and in His pit^enceis full- 
ness of joy; at His right hand there are pleas- 
ures for evermore. Christ is upon His throne in 
the mediatorial office; and is pleading the cause of 
guilty sinners; and we will now pass around and 
behold him as our mediator. We have only 
made a few steps and we are now in the pres- 
ence of our blessed mediator. Paul was right 
when he said, ''There is one mediator between 
God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Christ 
looks very natural to us, He has the same body 
as he had when with us, except it was made glo- 
rified and now resemble itself very much as 
when transfigured on the mountain. Indeed IHe is 
very glad to see us and greets us with a kiss. He 



2- 1 HK SKCRLTS OF 

lias on li.iB face a^-feiniltH^and His words are full of 
love and mercYv We- liave just spoken of His 
eartlilv mission, and O 'What a lovely sjuile 
pavses over Hit face. 

Dear Lord, What did your death on the cross 
mean ? It meant a complete sacrifice for the sins 
of men. Lord if man is a mortal being and 
deatli is to be the dissolution of botli soul and 
body, what advantage do we deiive from your 
death ? and wliat does all this pleading mean ? 
Man 18 NOT MORTAL, but HE IS iMMORTxVL, and 
is destined to live always in Hell or Heaven, and 
my doing for him conditioned on his faith, 
meaais life eternal to him, and that is why L am 
now making intercession for him. Lord, you 
say that life eternal Is conditioned on faith, then 
if a man believe on thee he shall have eternal life? 
YES, aud more if ye believe. Beloved, now are 
ye the sons of God, and it dotli not appear what 
ye shall be: but ye know that, when J SHALL ap- 
pear, ye 8HALL be like me; lor ye shall see me 
as 1 am. 'i he reader will s^e from our shoit 
conveisation with Jesus that man is immortal, 
a spiritual iind proa'iessive being. 



ETEkNirV 2[ 



We will now resume our exploration of lieaven 
so np into the chariot we go. We are now passing; 
alonp' tlie street nortlnvard and to the) riHit are 
twenty thoasand chaiiots and liorsemen. and ()! 
how t ley love to talk about man's redemption, 
and of the song on the plains of Hethleliem. 
Michael now^ introduces ns to the Angel that 
fed Elijah, but one pecu.barity about an earthly 
being, being introduced to a* heavenly is that 
they do not always tell the name, you can only 
know him as a messenger of (lod and the busi. 
ness upon which he is or has -been dispatched. 
BafoL-e we leave we m i?j have a^^horb talk with 
(jabriel. Gabriel, they tell us thai- you are to 
blow the trump of God, and wake up all the 
dead? Weill in all probability I will, but the 
Scriptures do not say that I will, that is a geneial 
supposition and will be a very great pleasure for 
me to comply with in God's owm appointed 
time. Gabriel, is nor man a mortal being? and 
and if so, Avhat dees this waking him from the 
dead mean? Why man is as trnly immortal as 
1 am, and God hath said that He would bring 
every work into judgment, and it must be so' 



TlfK SECRKTS (JF 



and if man's work can but stand the test he will 
enjoy the fruits of his labor and if not he mmt 
suffer loss. 

We must bring our present exploration to an 
end, so off we go for the South gate, and as we 
pass along in the chariot we are now speaking 
of the health of the count.y. VVe have not seen 
a grave yard in all our exploration, Gabriel says, 
no sickness, sorrow, pain nor death ever enter 
here, see who are here, and all who will come 
here shall be free from those things. Christ is 
preparing a place for you, so be ready for I 
shall be pleased to come down and escort you 
home. Good bye. Down! Down! we ride, now 
we are home again. 



IV. 



§INCE man is a Spiritual and progressive be. 
ing it is plain that he can not always live in 
the Inteiniediate State; he must come out 
and then enter the place that Jesus hath prepar- 
ed for him, and where his development will be 
more rapidly carried to perfection. Since that 
is true, we must move cautiously toward the res- 
arrtction. for that is the only gateway out of the 
Intermediate State. We have hitherto refered 
to the resurrection steps, and will now take them 
up in their order. First, the Apostle Paul says, 
•'There is one glory of the sun, and another glo- 
ry of the moon, and anotlier glory of the stars: 
for one star differeth from another star in glory." 
So also is the ressurrection of the dead. Here 
we have it in plain words, that there is to be a 



'11 IE SKCRl/r^ OK 



resiiruetion of the dead. Kow the apostle 'pro-r 
ceeds to give tlie manner of tlie planting. ''It 
is sown in conuption; it^i^iaised in inconuption. 

^' But some man will say. How are the dead 
raised up'^ and with what bodj^ do they come?" 
''1 hon fool, that which thou sowest is not quick- 
ened, except it die: -'So here we have the plant 
ing in corruption and the lesuricction in incoi* 
ruption. W e:\vill now proceed to the next step 
and so on untiktiie fourth is reached, for we 
must see to it; t^iat the re^-urrection is plainly 
shown to be an. outlet to ihe intermediate State. 
''It is sown in d]\shonor; it is laised in glory." 
Heie also we have the planting and the resur- 
rection clearh^ demonstrated without a shadow 
of a doubt. Who will say that tliere is no res- 
urrection of the rdead? The Apostle has well 
said. ''It is sown in Aveahnees; it is laised in 
power." C)ua' thi d witness gives testimony to 
tlie facts, viz. planting and lesurrection. It is 
said that in tlie- mouth of two or thice witnesses 
every word t]:aU be established. 

We will now introduce you to the fourth wit- 
ness 01' step as Ave have called it fuither back 



ETERMTV 25 

It is'^owD a iiatiiral body; it is laised a spiritual 
i body. Now Ycu can see that the for.rth witjuss 
gives testinioiiy to the very same facts — planting 
and resurrection^. Well, having opened the gate 
way, we feel that we may safely pi'oceed to the 
final Judgment. Gabrieb we suppose is to wake 
the dead, while many angels are sen. t in quick 
dispatch- to unlade duties assigned them. For 
example, '^4nd I saw an angel come down from 
heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and 
a great chain in his hand." , ^^A.nd he laid ho'r 
on the dragon, that old serpent, which is t!.^ 
Devib and Katan, and bound him a thousarid 
years, '-And cast him into the bottomless pit, and 
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he 
should deceive the nations no more, till the 
thousand years should be fulfilled^ and after that 
he must be loosed a little season." ^\'\nd I saw 
another augel fly in the midst of heaven, having 
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that 
dwell on the eai'th, saying with a loud voice, 
fe:i;' Grol, anl gtve glory to him, for the hour of 
judgment is come." And another angel came 
out of the temple, crying witli a loud voice to him 



THF SECRETS OF 



that sat on the cloud, '•'Thrust in thy sickle, 
and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; 
for the harvest of the earth is ripe." With 
these few examples out of the many we will pro- 
ceed to the work in hand. There is another 
angel, and he is standing with one foot on the 
land and the other on the sea, and he is swear- 
ing by him that liveth for ever, and ever, that 
things SHALL be no longer. Christ is now de- 
sending from heaven with a shout, and with the 
voice of an archangel, and with the trump of 
God, and Gabriel is standing calm and easy, and 
the dead in Christ are now first to rise: O! 
LOOK at the people coming from the Intermedi- 
ate State. Look at those spii-itual bodies, O I 
how they do shine, why ! their faces shine as the 
sun, and they are whiter than snow; aud look at 
the rest of those that remained, they have be- 
come like unto them. The angels are in the air, 
and the people ! thej:)eople ! the people .^ they are 
shouting ! ]\\^t listen I they are shouting and say- 
ing thanks be to God which giveth us the victo- 
ry through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is 
nowvupon the throne of His glory, and all the ho- 



ETERNM'l V 



]y angels are about him; and Gabriel is sounding 
the last loud trumpet and those who have done 
good unto the resurrection of life are alrc^ady be- 
fore the judgment seat while those who have done 
evil unto tlie resurrection of damnation are now 
coming up before the Lord also. 'I he apostles 
are now upon the twelve thrones and proceed 
with Christ, first, to judge the Jews by the Law 
^'FoL* as many as have sinned in the Law shall be 
judged by the Law." Second, to judge tlie Gen- 
tiles by the Law of conscience, ^'•For as manj^ as 
have sinned without Law shall also perish with- 
out Law." The third class are judged in all the 
light of Christianity as revealed in the Revelation 
of Jesus Christ. The separation has fully taken 
place, and the sheep are on His right hand, but 
the goats on the left* ''Now the king says unto 
them on his right hand, '-Come ye blessed of my 
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
from the foundation of the world." 

''Then shall he say also unto them on the left 
hand, ^'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlast- 
ing Are, prepared for the devil and his angels." 

Let us now suppose that old things have pass- 



2cS '1H1-: SKCRKTS OF 



ed away and all become new, and that the judg- 
ment being past, have entered into their reward. 
And if so. with wdiat body did they enter? We 
answer with the same body that they were raised 
Avith, and that body is the same one that they 
went into the graye with, except a formation 
and transformation. We do not know just how 
long this formation is in process, but we would 
infer from what the apostle has said relative to 
the resurrection body, that the out-come of it 
must be simultaneously, that is at the same time 
of the transformation of- the bodv. ''We shallnot 
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a mo- 
ment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump 
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 
be raised incorruptible, ^and; we shall be changed.'" 
Kow if the Apostle does not mean that the same 
body shall be raised, 1 don't know what is meant 
by the phrase, ^'We shall all be changed." If it 
is not the same body, and God is necessitated 
to form a new body for every soul out of new 
matter, why not construct one that need no trans- 
formation'.^ It seems to us that matter of the 
latter would be as easily for God to compose a 



KrKRMTV 29 

a body of, a.s of tlie forme.-, and if so, it :s reason- 
able to t'iink He would. We believe that the 
same body is laised, only transformed in tlie act 
of the resurrection, and that without loosing its 
identity. You take a rough huge marble, and 
out of it the sculptor will form a beautiful image 
til at will dazzle your eyes, and yet it is the very 
same piece of marble. It is not to be understood 
that (xod must go off in hunt of new^ matter "out 
of which to form new bodies, tor as the sculptor 
formed a beautiful image out of the rough huge 
marble, how much more so, is God able to 
^'change our vile body, according to the work- 
ing whereby He is able even to subdue all things 
unto himself." 



Y. 



r^HE Kesurrectioii is over, the Judgment is 
p) past and the saints have entei-ed their state of 
rest. This is not like our cottages of clay, our 
prisons, our earthlj^ dwellings. 'Jliis voice of joy 
is not like our old complaints, our impatient 
groans and sighs; nor this melodious praise like 
the scoffs and revilings, or the oaths and curses 
which we heard on earth, This body is not like 
that we had, nor this soul like the soul we had, 
nor this life like the life we lived. We have 
changed our place and state, our clothes and 
thoughts; our looks, language and company. 
Before, a saint was weak and despised — so proud 
and peevish, we could often scarcely discern his 
graces; but now, how glorious is a saint. Where 
is now their body of sin which wearied them- 



TIFK SECRETS DF 31 

solves and tliose about tliem? Where are now 
oui- different judgments, I'eproaeliful names, di- 
vided spirits, exasperated passions, strange 
looks, uncharitable censures'^ Now we are all 
of one color, of onL^pidgement, of one name, of one 
heart, house, and glory, () sweet reconciliation! 
Happy union! 

We have said that all are of one color, of oue 
iudgment, of one name, of one heart, house and 
olorv. We do not know iust how this will di- 
gest with those who lioldthat the rainbow about 
the throne is a representative of tlie many colors 
of people who shall gather about the throne. 
We object to that theory as being one of blind 
hypothesis and prejudgment. And secondly, 
there are not enough colois in the rainbow to be 
a legal representative of all the various colors in 
the earth. And thirdly, the rainbow was never 
given to repi-esent colors in heaven o; earth. 
The first account we have of the rainbow, is 
that G(Ki set it in the cloud, for a token of a cov- 
enant between himself and the earth, and tiiat 
covenant was, that the waters should no mors be- 
come a flood to destrov all flesh Now the rain- 



THE SKCRKTS (IV 



bow in heaven is spoken of in t\vo or tlii-ee differ- 
ent cliapters in ti^e Hci-iphire, for example, 
•*And I saw another nrlghty angel come down 
from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow 
was upon his head." Now here the lainbow 
is upon the angel's head, and I guess it is the 
same one, and Avhat it represents in one place it 
mustn-epresent in a;nother. so we say so we be- 
lieve. Since this is\true, let us carry out the 
analogy: The theorist says that the lainbow 
about the thi'one vepresents tlie people of various 
colors who will gather about the throne. Xow 
if this is necessarily so becanse the rainbow 
happened to be about the throne., then I suppose 
that the people w^ill get a free ride out of hea- 
veuvand that on the angels head, for the rain- 
bow wa? oirhis heitd, and he was coming down 
from heaven. Now I think that will be about 
the way of it; U God is to^ cari-y colors and pred- 
judices into heaven, then the lainbow about the 
throne is a representative of the- various colors 
about the throne; and the rainbow on the angels 
head predicts another insurrection in lieaven. 
Thank God: we entertain no fears on that line. 



ETERMTV 



He who will change oar vile bodies, will fash- 
ion them like nnto Hss glourios body. Now it 
seems to me, tliab, that is sufficient, for Christ 
has but one body, and if we are all to be lik^" 
him, we are to be of one color. 

We are not to suppose that (Christ's glorified 
body is made up of many colors, noi* neither does 
it resemble the rainbow. Wf^ think that tlie 
body of Christ when tranfigared was a fair 
image of an hevenly body. "And was transfig 
nred before then: and His face did shine as the 
sun, and His ]-aiment was white as the light.*' 
Now let us compare passages. "There shall the 
righteous shine fourth as the sun in the king- 
dom of their Father." "And they that be wise 
shall shine as a the brightness of the firmament: 
and thf^y tl at turn many righteous as the 
stars for ever and ever." Those passages do 
not refer to the raiment, but to the body. We 
know the co^ or of the sun and also of the stars^ 
so we mav veiy easily reach our conclusions as 
to the co:or of tliose who have gathered about 
the throne, ^^Saying with a loud voice, Worthy 
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and 



34 TIIK SECRETS (^F 



riljhes, and wisdom, and strength, and home, and 
glory, and blessing." 

Fn our former tour to the holy city we found 
Jesus busily engaged in His Mediatorial office, 
but He has now passed from the Mediatorial of- 
fice to the throne of His divine power- Before 
the throne there is an innumerable multitude, 
which no man can numder, of all nations, and 
kindred, and people, and tongues, and they are 
all clothed in white robes, and palms in their 
hands. I hear the voice of harpers harping with 
their harps, '^^nd they sing song the song of 
of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the 
Lanb, saying; great and marvellous are the 
works, I^ord God Almighty; just and true are thy 
ways, thou Kind of faints." Rest! How sweet 
the sound. It is melody to my ears, It lies as 
a reviving cordial to my heart, and from thence 
send fourth lively spirits, which beat through 
all the pulses of my soul. Rest! not as the stone 
that rests on the earth, nor as this flesh shall 
rest in' the grave, nor such a rest the carnal 
world desires. O blessed rest, Vfhen we rest 
not day and deight, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, 



ETERNITY. 35 



Lord God Almighty!' When we shall rest from 
sin, but not from worship; from sorrow but not 

from joy. 



\I. 



pj^o close tins treatise, without in some way, 
(p showiPig up tbe old fashioiid hell, we feel 
would be injustice to the reader. 1 he first 
thing we wish to do, is to inipress you with the fact 
that man is a Spi)*itual and piogreesive being, and 
tliathewill live on unfolding his poweis whether 
in hell ovlu aveu. And the next thing we wish to 
impress your mind with, is that hell is a place, 
and a PLACE of TOiiMENT. Hell was never pre- 
pared for the souls of men, but for the devil and 
his angels, and he who goes there, will go there, 
as an intruder, and the devil will pay him well 
for it. Now we will speak of the things or en- 
joyments of time which the damned lose. First 
they shall lose their presumptuous belief of their 
interest in the favor of God and the merits of 



Christ. They have gone on all the time, hopilig 
and trusting tJiat great good would sojne to them 
of its self, and that without any voluntary act 
upon their part, and indeed, they believe so, and 
made themselves to rest at ease. JiutalasI alas! 
the change has come. ''In hell they lift up theij* 
eyes, aud are tormented, day, and night in the 
torments of hell. VV here is now your false be- 
lief that supported you in yonder world/ What 
will ease your trouble now, since ye can believe 
no longer? Secondly, they shall lose also all their 
hopes. Jn this life they were told of the happi- 
ness of heaven and of the torments of hell, thev 
were threatened with the wrath of God, and yet, 
their hopes bore up their hearts in unbelief; and 
on they went, and in hell they lift up their eyes, 
without one hope of glimmering day. His hope 
of eternal joy in the presence of God is forever 
gone. And thirdly they will lose all that false 
peace of conscience which their present life so 
easy. Happy jnen if this peace would prove 
lasting! ''When they shall say, Peace and safty, 
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as 
travail upon a woman with a child; and they shall 



3« THK SECRETS OF 



escape.'' () what c]iiel peace which ends in 
such a war! And fourthly, they shall lose all 
their carnal mirth. () how merry were they in 
this life, how full of hilarity as the attended 
upon their great fevS'tals of earth. O where is 
your hilarity now? They cuse the day that 
they were born, but it is too late now, in hell 
they lift up their eyes. And fiftly, they shall 
lose all their sensual delights. I'hose things 
which they loved so well, and esteemed as their 
chief good, their God, their heaven, their all has 
taken wings and flew away. Sinner, where is 
your God? To whom do you give your honor? 
stop, think, believe, pi ay and live the life of a 
christian. The next thing we would call your 
attention to, is the lost of the saints rest. Kead 
the bible for yourself, believe in its promises for 
yourself, and press into the Kingdom. Don't 
stop to believe a lie, for it came from the devil 
and he is the father of it. We tell you, the bi- 
ble tells you, the angels tell you, and God the 
Father tells you, that the saints rest is not in 
hell, and if you go there, you will find it a truth, 
to late found out. We have said that hell was a 



TITK SKCRKTS OV 



place of torment, and it is; it \Aas ordained to 
glorify the jn^tice of God, and is as real v a place 
as heaven, and heave?^ as earth. The torments 
of hell are very great; it is called a place of for- 
getting God, yonr best friend; it is called hell 
and damnati<.n^ and so it is; it is called a lake 
that barns with fire and brimstone, and also hell- 
fire. 

Now let us tell you, it is both, hell and fire, 
and it is as really fire as any you ever saw in a 
furnace except it is a great many degrees hotter. 
Now we suppose you have read the dialogue 
that took place betAveen the rich man who was 
from hell, and Abraham in Paradise. Now we 
want to tell vou, that, that rich man was in the 
northern part of hell, near the gulf 1 hie, and that 
state was proparatory to something much worse. 
Tf that be true, whods would fail to give you an 
adequate idea of the torments of hell. Torments 
in hell will be universal. Since all parts have 
joined in sin, so must they partake in the tor- 
ment. The soul as it was chief in sinnino- shall 
be chief in suffering; and as it is of a more ex- 
ct^llent nature than the bodv, so will its torments 



40 THE SECRETS OF 

far exceed bodily torments: and as its joys far 
surpass all sensual pleasure, so tlie pains of the 
soul exceed corporeal pains. It is not only a 
soul, but a sinful soul that must suffer. We 
would Lave you to know that these pains will be 
Avithout any mitigation. 



